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Military & Security

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Photo of frozen Russian tanks in Ukraine.
Articles & Testimony
The War in Iran Could Become Like the War in Ukraine
Trump’s fifteen-point peace proposal suggests that he recognizes the need to find an off-ramp, but Washington must stay committed to that path to avoid a Russian-style quagmire.
Mar 27, 2026
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  • James Jeffrey
A photo illustration depicts chess pieces and the Iranian and U.S. flags - source: Reuters
Video
Brief Analysis
Diplomacy During War: Priorities for the Trump Administration
Join us for an expert webcast exploring diplomatic tools available to policymakers as the Iran war enters its fifth week. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
April 2, 2026, startnig at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT)
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  • Emily Harding
  • Richard Nephew
  • Michael Singh
  • Nancy A. Youssef
Gen. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr - source: Wikimedia Commons
Brief Analysis
Zolghadr at the Top of Iranian Security
His appointment as SNSC secretary shows that the regime is relying on a veteran hardliner to manage crisis and preserve control.
Mar 26, 2026
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  • Farzin Nadimi
USS Boxer leads U.S. Navy ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz - source: Department of Defense
Brief Analysis
Military Options for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: Limitations and Imperatives
Loosening Tehran’s grip on the strait and its disruption of the global economy would entail not only reducing threats to navigation, but also increasing pressure on the Iranian economy in order to deter further attacks and create leverage for diplomacy.
Mar 23, 2026
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  • Michael Eisenstadt
  • Assaf Orion
Close-up photo of Chinese leader Xi and Russian leader Putin.
Video
Brief Analysis
Great Power Competition During (and After) the Iran War
Three experts examine how Moscow, Beijing, and European capitals are navigating the crisis and what their choices reveal about the future of the global order.
Mar 19, 2026
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  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Souhire Medini
  • Henry Tugendhat
  • Grant Rumley
The national flags of China and Iran fly in Tiananmen Square during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Beijing, China, February 14, 2023 - source: Reuters
Articles & Testimony
How China Could Shorten Iran’s Path to Military Recovery After the War
Beijing has been mostly talk and little walk so far, but once the war ends, it may decide to help Tehran rebuild militarily in return for oil.
Mar 17, 2026
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  • Assaf Orion
A video board displays various oil and gas commodity prices in September 2023 - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Defeating Iran’s Strategy: Energy Security and the “Abraham Shield”
Tehran is targeting the soft underbelly of the U.S.-Israeli campaign—the oil sector and vulnerable Middle Eastern states—but allied officials can counter this strategy by taking concerted steps to bolster their regional partners, stabilize oil markets, and suppress the regime's military capabilities.
Mar 16, 2026
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  • Assaf Orion
Articles & Testimony
Lebanon’s Failure to Disarm Hezbollah Comes With a Price
Through their continued unwillingness to take on the militia and break Iran’s hold over Lebanon, Beirut and the LAF have effectively chosen the more calamitous path of war with Israel.
Mar 14, 2026
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  • David Schenker
Photo showing Ukraine's President Zelensky greeting Saudi officials on the tarmac.
Brief Analysis
Washington Should Jump on Ukraine’s Outreach to the Middle East
By offering military expertise and technology to the Gulf states, Kyiv has given the U.S. government a unique opportunity to counter Iran and Russia while boosting the security of American partners and forces in the region.
Mar 13, 2026
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  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Matt Tavares
Israeli Iron Dome missiles intercept rockets fired into Israel from Gaza by Hamas in October 2023 - source: Reuters
Video
Brief Analysis
Countering Threats from Iran’s Proxies and Partners During Wartime
Three experts discuss how Hezbollah, the Yemeni Houthis, and pro-Iran militias in Iraq have reacted to the war so far, outlining steps Washington and its regional partners can take to keep them from escalating further.
Mar 13, 2026
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  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • April Longley Alley
  • Michael Knights
A satellite map with political borders overlaid shows Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Examining the Terrorism and Insurgency Links Between AfPak and Iran
The two conflicts may appear unrelated, but an al-Qaeda haven in Iran, threats from the Islamic State, and separatist ambitions could supercharge the risks to regional and global security.
Mar 12, 2026
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  • Aaron Y. Zelin
Articles & Testimony
A Levant Without Militias?
For the first time, the region is on the path to sidelining militias and reaping the potential stabilization benefits, though significant obstacles remain.
Mar 10, 2026
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  • David Schenker
A map shows the routes of ships into and out of the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz - source: Reuters
Video
Brief Analysis
Energy and Shipping Risks in the Iran War
Four experts explain why reversing the conflict’s effects on oil and gas production and tanker traffic from the Gulf will likely take much longer than many people realize, with only limited supply alternatives in the meantime.
Mar 9, 2026
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  • Lauren Holtmeier
  • Matt Smith
  • Richard Nephew
  • Tomer Raanan
US Army troops board transport helicopters
Articles & Testimony
Alternative Security Models for Syria Amid U.S. Pullout
By using Syria’s newfound resources as a coalition member and negotiating military assignments at the U.S. embassy, the two governments could offset many of the concerns raised by the withdrawal of American combat units.
Mar 7, 2026
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  • James Jeffrey
Brief Analysis
Great Power Spillover from the Iran War: Implications for China, Russia, Turkey, and Europe
Washington Institute experts explain what U.S. officials and military planners should be on the lookout for as great power competitors and close allies outside the region consider their responses to the crisis.
Mar 6, 2026
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  • Grant Rumley
  • Henry Tugendhat
  • Anna Borshchevskaya
  • Soner Cagaptay
  • Souhire Medini
A USAF F-35 launches a missile in flight - source: Department of Defense
Brief Analysis
Assessing U.S. Progress in the Iran War
While the United States and Israel are winning based on measures like the degradation of Iran’s naval force and missiles, a broader victory will require securing domestic support and avoiding the maximalism that has hindered past American military efforts.
Mar 6, 2026
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  • Michael Singh
Map of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility after Israeli military strikes.
Articles & Testimony
The Abiding Question of the Iranian Bomb
The nuclear program is still the paramount threat, and both of the main options for permanently ending it are unpalatable—but Washington needs a plan nevertheless.
Mar 5, 2026
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  • Richard Nephew
Mojtaba Khamenei - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
What Kind of Supreme Leader Would Mojtaba Khamenei Be?
Given his strong ties to the IRGC, Khamenei’s son might pursue extreme strategic options.
Mar 5, 2026
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  • Patrick Clawson
  • Farzin Nadimi
Smoke rises after an Iranian strike in Bahrain on March 2, 2026 - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
War Comes to the Gulf
With Iran seemingly intent on continuing its strikes against Gulf targets and regional leaders mulling whether and how to respond, what can policymakers and military planners expect to see next in terms of likely target sets, risks to civilian areas, concerns over air defense munition supplies, and potential repercussions for energy and commercial shipping interests?
Mar 3, 2026
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  • Elizabeth Dent
  • Michael Eisenstadt
  • Noam Raydan
  • April Longley Alley
A flight deck crewman directs operations of an F-35 jet on board the USS Abraham Lincoln - source: Department of Defense
Video
Brief Analysis
The U.S. and Israel Strike Iran
Read or watch urgent insights into America’s objectives in Iran and the policies that would best advance U.S. security, help the Iranian people, and improve the prospects for long-term regional stability.
Mar 2, 2026
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  • Holly Dagres
  • Dennis Ross
  • Dana Stroul
  • Robert Satloff

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Supported by the

Military and Security Studies Program

The Washington Institute's Military and Security Studies Program has established itself as an unrivaled source of reliable, incisive, and forward-looking analysis concerning several of the most critical national-security challenges facing the United States today: The U.S. military role in the Middle East, Iran's nuclear program and its proxy armies, the ongoing conflict is in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, the regional proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction, the security dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and many other security issues on the frontline of the U.S. policymaking agenda.

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Featured experts

Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt is the Kahn Senior Fellow and director of The Washington Institute's Military and Security Studies Program.
Grant Rumley
Grant Rumley
Grant Rumley is the Meisel Family Senior Fellow and Director of the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Elizabeth Dent - source: The Washington Institute
Elizabeth Dent
Elizabeth Dent is the Nathan and Esther K. Wagner Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where she focuses on U.S. foreign and defense policy toward the Gulf states, Iraq, and Syria.
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